Posted on by agilejack

I’m Back… and a 2023 Recap

I’ve been slacking for a few days. I took off work Friday, Monday and had a holiday today. So I’ve been resting and recreating for a few days. And it’s been wonderful.

Thanks to those of you who reached out to see if I was ok.

So, what did I do during those five days off? Mostly I played with my boys and played pickleball! In five days I played Pickleball five times! I’m actually taking some lessons in an effort to get better. A guy I met and had a lot of fun playing with in one of the clubs I joined offered to give me some coaching. It’s been really fun to concentrate on things that will help me get better and he’s a really good teacher. I’m already seeing my play improve. He’s working on becoming a certified pickleball coach so we can both get something out of this.

This photo was from a class I took last week with one of the clubs I belong to. I’m in the very center with a Kelly green t-shirt… standing next to the net,

In those five days off I didn’t spend one moment in my sewing room. I think I had been pretty frenzied for the last month or so ago and I just needed a break. Luckily, the break wasn’t needed because I’m feeling a creative dry spell. I just needed to take some time off. I’m feeling ready to get back in there and am anxious to start something new.

So, over the last week or so I’ve seen a good number of people on social media and on blogs posting all their quilting/sewing finishes in the first six months of 2023. Amazingly, these people actually FINISH pieces… they don’t just finish one stage of them.

So I thought I’d share my finished pieces for 2023. Except that I’m going so share things where I’ve finished significant stages, and not a finished, quilted and bound item. Although there are a couple of those thrown in.

The first half of the year has proven to be a good one for finally wrapping up some unfinished projects, with a couple new things thrown in.

January started out with finishing my Jewel Frames quilt top. The blocks for that top had been languishing for a few years in a box. It was time to get this done.

This will be a second quilt for my bedroom. I still need to make the backing and get it to my long armer quilter. There is really no hurry on this one.

I had a bit of a Frankenbag kick in January, making one for a friend of mine who was going on a cruise in February, and an extra made from the same scraps left over from my Jewel Frames quilt.

The biggest finish in February was the starburst quarter log cabin quilt that I’m making for my brother. This is another one that had been sitting in a box for quite some time. All I had to do was sew the rows together and add the setting triangles and borders. My friend helped me finish it all up when she visited in February.

This is ready to go to my long arm quilter.

The next February finish was my friend’s Aboriginal Fabric 16 patch that we made while she was visiting. I forced her to make a 16 patch and she didn’t love it when we started. But by the time we were done she had fallen in love with it.

This really makes me want to make one for myself! It would be perfect in my living room.

The only thing I finished in March was my Jumble Quarter Log Cabin quilt top made from left over blocks from the quilt for my brother. I feel like I spent every waking moment in March on this thing!

This is currently in the hands of my long arm friend who is trading quilting for some quilt tops. It will be fun to see it done.

The only thing I finished in May was something that was truly finished. I sewed the binding on my NY Beauty wall hanging. This had been sitting unfinished for such a long time!

Sewing on that binding was a bit of a break for me since I worked on Wensleydale blocks all throughout May. I finished sewing the quilt top together in early June.

I thoroughly enjoyed making these blocks and am really happy with how it turned out. I do plan to make another one, but it will be out of Australian Aboriginal fabrics. I’m still formulating that idea before I start cutting and sewing.

And finally, in June I finished sewing the blocks together for my Japanese X & + Quilt. This is another project that had been sitting unfinished for far too long.

It still needs borders but I’m calling it for June.

I’m happy to have a short work week coming up. I have pickleball to play!!!

Luckily, my boys are pretty easy and are happy to get some cookies and an occasional walk.

56 Replies to “I’m Back… and a 2023 Recap”

  1. Everyone needs some time off, do something different. If it makes you feel better you have finished a lot more than me….and you have the sweetest boys EVER!🥰

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  2. I just gifted my queen Jewel Frames to my grandson and his fiancé. I forgot to take a photo, so I’m happy you did! Moving to Mexico soon and hope to take up pickle ball. You are an inspiration!

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  4. Hello! I was very glad to see this email today. I was getting worried that something happened to you or yours. I thoroughly enjoy your posts/emails and look forward to them. I can always count on you to recharge my interest into starting a new project! I love everything you’ve made and shared, and thank you for your time sharing your love of everything fabric and quilting!! Sincerely, Joanne Toetz

    >

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    1. Wow! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. It’s been a lot of fun to connect with readers all over the country and the world!

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  5. Glad you took some time for yourself. After seeing your quilt, I made a quilt using aboriginal fabrics. I plan to invest in some saw-toothed Kaffe and some black/white Kaffe. I like how you use it in your quilts. I love hearing/seeing your dogs. I have a standard poodle….they are scary smart and lovable beyond words….like all dogs. Sometimes better than humans.

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  6. I am new to your blog–taken in with the Frankenbag–love,love it! As I decided this was a year to complete a few items , I found this quite inspiring ! Enjoy your pickle ball !

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  7. Like lots of your followers I’m glad to hear your absence was nothing serious. I’ll admit since I started playing pickleball I can see where instruction would greatly improve my game. Love all the quilts but the one for your brother is still my fave.

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    1. I feel like a much stronger pickle ball player after just two lessons! I have another one tomorrow morning to get me all ready for a Pickleball weekend!

      Anne

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  8. I was thinking you were playing lots of pickle ball! You really did a lot of beautiful sewing in the 1st 6 months.
    Hi Rico and Bender 🥰

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  9. What an amazing half year you’ve had! I am glad to hear that someone else is a good starter, but a less than enthusiastic finisher. I have lost count of the number of quilt tops I have made without finishing. I keep hoping I will acquire a long arm! Just wanted to thank you for your posts. I look forward to seeing your progress on your beautiful quilts and to hearing about “the boys.” They are absolutely the cutest dogs!

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    1. ‘Less than enthusiastic finisher” describes me to a T!!!

      I would love to have a long arm machine but I’d have to buy a new house to accommodate it!

      Anne

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  11. Your quilts all look beautiful and make me feel like real slacker. I just can’t seem to produce like a lot of people I know, guess just too many interruptions.

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    1. Well, it’s good to be productive and be able to crank stuff out. But then I just end up with a lot of stuff that I have no plans for..A blessing and a curse!

      Anne

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  12. That has to feel good to get all of those started quilt tops finished. I go through dry spells after I finish a quilt and have to just play with stacks of fabric to reacquaint myself my stash which in turn inspires the next quilt.
    You get a lot more exercise than the average person with your many mile walks with the dogs and pickleball, all while working full time. I would say you had a great first half of the year.

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    1. It feels like I’ve been productive so far. And it does feel good to be wrapping up some projects that have been sitting for far too long.

      I feel so much better when I’m getting a good amount of exercise. It makes it easier to keep up with the habit.

      Anne

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  15. I too considered checking in on you…. I read your blog faithfully and have really been inspired of late.

    I made some smaller bags using the batik square you showed us. I had so much fun with that. I think I may have sent you the first one. I discovered soon after, that I had not done it as shown, so I did adjust the next few.

    Pictures attached.

    Glad you are just having fun! Happy Summer ⛱️🌞

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  18. Like many of your other followers, I was worried and had considered sending an email to check on you. I set the arbitrary date of July 4th – if there wasn’t a post, then an email would be on its way. Phew… your post appeared! I’m happy to know you are well and have been enjoying yourself. I think it was great you were able to take some well deserved time off and turn it into a 5 day mini vacation. You certainly have accomplished so much in the past half year – sewing projects, pickleball, daily walks, and, oh wait, all this on top of a demanding full time job. I enjoy seeing your projects and reading about your interesting life. You truly are an inspiration!!!

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    1. I really enjoyed my five days off. It felt like a real luxury and a real vacation. Amazing what a few days away from our regular grind can do for us!

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  19. Wonderful post … I’m so pleased to hear you took some time for yourself and enjoyed improving your pickle ball game. I believe that a balanced life is a happy life. Meaning, it is important to care for our physical selves and to be somewhat social too (not just work on our quilts). Your 2023 quilts are fabulous. Great job !! I really do love all of them and your bags too. Saving the best for last, nice to see the photo of the boys and to hear that they are not too demanding. Thank you for sharing with all of us and best wishes and kindest regards!! Here’s to the second half of 2023!!

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  20. Hello, so glad you took the time to recharge and relax ,I think in todays world it’s all, go,go,go and then we just drop from exhaustion ! Let me say the your quilting is phenomenal !the colors! The patterns ,I just don’t know how you do it , but you do and thank you for sharing with us, your an inspiration to me ,when I get in a slump I look at your work and wallah, ideas start flowing so hope you have a great rest of your week !
    Kelly

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    1. Aw, thanks! I do tend to have sort of frenzied waves of productivity, and then a break seems to come naturally. I’m just glad that I’m not having a creative slump. I just need a few more days off.

      thanks for reading! It’s wonderful to hear that my work gives you some inspiration!

      Anne

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  21. An Aboriginal 16 patch! Now that’s an idea I love. That may be my next project. Glad all is ok with you, as I was getting concerned also. Your “peeps” want to hear from you every day. After months of not feeling well (long Covid) I’m back into sewing mode and working on new and old projects. Keep inspiring us with your productivity!

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    1. I’m glad too hear from you. It’s been a long time since you’ve commented here. I’m glad you’re feeling a little better.

      I love my friend’s Aboriginal 16 patch. I really want to make one for my self. Some day.

      Anne

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      1. After commenting to you yesterday, I started cutting 2 1/2″ strips from my Aboriginal stash. I’m getting excited now about this new project. Can’t wait to see photos from your project.

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  22. “Amazingly, these people actually FINISH pieces… they don’t just finish one stage of them.” This made me laugh because, of course, I have a gazillion “almost finished” projects in drawers . . . But also because you are my “it’s finished” heroine. I always think when I read your blog entries: wow. She really is productive! So there you go. It’s all relative.

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    1. Haha! I can be very focused and productive. And on the other hand, I can procrastinate with the best of them! It all depends on how excited about a project. Most become a slog after a certain point!

      Anne

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  23. So glad you’ve had a break and having a fun time playing pickle ball, energizing yourself tends to get those creative juices flowing! When we start having 96-97 degree days and 96-97% humidity I find my creativity hits the bottom! I need to find my energizing spark!! If I wait for cooler weather, it’d be October before I sew again!!

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    1. I’m so glad we don’t have that terrible humidity. I think that’s the one weather feather that I just couldn’t live with.

      Our summer has been pretty nice so far. We’ve had some warm temps the last few days but it’s already cooling off, and it’s been nice and cool at night.

      Anne

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  25. I really enjoy receiving your emails and updates on your sewing projects! During the last year I dropped my Facebook and instagram accounts partly because it was taking the joy out of the creative part of my sewing. You are one of the only people I receive sewing ideas from and I’m always encouraged by your emails!!

    I love to sew as much as you and appreciate the time you take to document your work and ideas.

    Looking forward to what lies ahead in the second half of the year for both of us!

    Your follower from Jackson, MS, Susan

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    1. I’m spending less and less time on Facebook. the one group where I used to find inspiration has suffered from a lack of moderation and is now filled with stuff that doesn’t interest me. It makes me a little sad because I used to find so much inspiration there.

      I’m glad you found my blog! and thanks for reading!!!

      Anne

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    1. I have several friends who also love these bright fabrics. It makes me a little sad that you don’t have any friends who share your passion for color! You should get busy converting them!

      Anne

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  27. I too was wondering how things were with you and your boys , what a successful quilting year you have had . Such wonderful colors . Summer is such a great time to work on our physical selfs keep having fun

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  28. Glad you’re back and you have been enjoying your outdoor passion. You had a successful year finishing projects and starting new ones. We’re always on to the next project aren’t we?

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